John H. Dobbs
John Hull Dobbs Jr is an American businessman who is the president and founder of Dobbs Equity Partners LLC of Memphis, Tennessee.[1]
Early life[edit]
He is the son of John Hull Dobbs Sr, and grandson of James K. Dobbs, who owned car dealerships and restaurant and airline catering businesses.[2]
Dobbs graduated from the private Memphis University School in 1985.[2] He earned a bachelor's degree from Duke University, and an MBA from the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School.[1][3]
Career[edit]
In 1998, the Dobbs Automotive Group was the third-largest car dealer in the US when it sold its 22 dealerships to AutoNation for $200 million in stock.[4]
Philanthropy[edit]
John and Katherine Dobbs are philanthropists known for funding educational initiatives. In 2012, The Children's Museum of Memphis named their campus "The John and Katherine Dobbs Family Center" following a donation from the couple.[5] Further contributions to exhibits at the museum include the H2Oh! Splash Park.[6] A water park designed to promote problem solving and language development.[7]
Katherine and John also funded the educational farm at Hutchinson school for girls.[8] The farm augments academic studies on topics such as the human impact on animal habitats, and deforestation.[9]
Personal life[edit]
Dobbs has always lived in Memphis, is married to Katherine Stobbs from Atlanta, and as of 2011 they had two children.[2] They have donated to the Hutchison School, and they have two daughters enrolled there.[10]
On January 5, 2021, Dobbs flew some of his friends from Memphis to Washington, DC, on his eight-seat Bombardier Challenger 300 private jet, allegedly in connection with a Stop the Steal rally.[11][12] The passengers were Dobbs, George Zanone III, Carter Campbell Sr., Vince Smith and his wife, Kaki Valerius Smith, brothers Dan and Bob McEwan, and an unidentified man.[11]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "John Hull Dobbs". Bloomberg LP. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
- ^ a b c "John Hull Dobbs, Jr. 2011 King of Carnival" (PDF). carnivalmemphis.org. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
- ^ Mason, Jessica B. "Meet the Chairman's Circle: John Dobbs". memphischamber. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
- ^ "Our History". dobbsequity.com. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
- ^ "Children's Museum honors Dobbs gift". Retrieved 2023-08-30 – via PressReader.
- ^ "Next Wave". Memphis Daily News. Retrieved 2023-08-30.
- ^ "H2Oh! Splash Park Parental Guide" (PDF). cmom.com.
- ^ "Hutchison's farm teaches girls more than farming" (PDF). The West Tennessee News. October 11, 2019. pp. 1–2.
- ^ Clark, Shara (2020-08-10). "On the Farm at Hutchison". Memphis Parent - Memphis, TN. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
- ^ "Hutchison's farm teaches girls more than farming". memphistransformed. No. October 10, 2019. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
- ^ a b Abigail, Tracy (March 18, 2021). "A Private Jet of Rich Trumpers Wanted to "Stop the Steal"—But They Don't Want You to Read This". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
- ^ Poe, Ryan. "Vanity Fair article linking Memphians to Capitol riot creates a stir". Memphis Commercial Appeal. Retrieved 20 March 2021.